REDISTRICTING
Orange County Legislature Fails to Advance New Map
The Orange County Legislature failed to advance three county legislative draft maps to the public hearing stage after a meeting on July 26th lost its quorum of legislators necessary to move the maps to the next stage. The county needs to have a new map in place before petitioning for the 2025 primary gets underway next year.
On June 18, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue celebrated the launch of the Let’s Swim NYC program. The program provides citizens throughout the five boroughs with improved access to pools to protect them against the summer heat, and to offer New Yorkers the opportunity to learn about water safety.
On Saturday, May 25, 2024, New York City beaches will open for swimming for the summer. During the beach season, lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Swimming is not prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty or in areas that have been closed. Closed sections will be marked with signs and/or red flags. There is no charge to access New York City beaches.
On May 2, 2024, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydonis Rodriguez announced proposed bus priority and bicycle lanes and discussed existing projects as part of efforts to prepare for the start of congestion pricing, set to launch on June 30th. Under the newly approved congestion pricing plan, drivers will be charged a toll to go south of 60th Street; the toll aims to encourage people to use alternative means of transportation to alleviate what is currently … <Read More>
On April 17, 2024, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) announced that construction has commenced on the five new Green Infrastructure playgrounds at schools in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. The playgrounds are designed to absorb more than 3.5 million gallons of stormwater every year to curb runoff that floods nearby streets and overwhelms local sewer systems in addition to polluting the East River.
Through Sunday, April 14, 2024, the City Council welcomes New Yorkers to vote during Participatory Budgeting Vote Week to determine how $24 million in capital funding from the Fiscal Year 2025 budget will be spent among 24 Council districts. Participatory budgeting funds focus on improving public spaces like schools, parks, and libraries or helping beautify city streets.